Your Weight-Loss Goals Are Easier and More Attainable With These 2 Tips From a Coach

Two years ago I ran my first half marathon; if you had told me that just two and a half years ago, I would’ve laughed at you! How could I run a half marathon without even running a single mile? I considered myself – at that point – totally and utterly physically inept, incapable of reaching such an incredible fitness feat.

A concept that was once an absolutely impossible, distant, never-gonna-happen figment of my imagination (honestly, so far-fetched that I never even thought about it) became something I enjoy doing twice a year now, and I went from thinking running was a joke to loving races and cherishing my half-marathon memories.

A combination of “micro successes” and “tiered goals,” according to Robin. She explained that these two things will get you from the couch to a physical accomplishment you wouldn’t have envisioned in your wildest dreams. This idea can be applied to weight loss or any other physical fitness endeavour.

“Celebrate micro successes; maybe you don’t hit the distance or the pace that you want, but getting out the door is the success that day.”

Lacing up your shoes? Micro success. Going for a run when you don’t feel like it? Micro success. Choosing a piece of fruit instead of a cupcake? Micro success. Getting anything under a 15-minute mile pace? You get the picture! “It’s a matter of constantly reinforcing your will-power muscle; I do think that that reinforcement requires continually celebrating micro success, which often is in daily training.” You can have a big overarching goal – like your race distance or goal weight – but keep things in perspective. That leads to Robin’s second tactic for goal-setting: having tiered goals.

Robin said, “Tiered goals keep us goal-oriented, but also they’re a touchstone for things that happen. The weather could be sh*tty, you could get injured, you might get broken up with the day before your first half marathon – which happened to me!” The smaller goals are excellent benchmarks that keep you from feeling derailed entirely when something goes wrong, and less likely to give up on those big dreams. Equip yourself for major success with these tiers of goals and micro celebrations – you’ll feel better than you ever have in your entire life.